Brian Stann vs. Jorge Santiago official for UFC 130 in May

An intriguing middleweight matchup is now official for UFC 130, as Brian Stann (10-3 MMA, 4-2 UFC) meets Jorge Santiago (23-8 MMA, 1-2 UFC) on the evening’s main card.

UFC officials today announced the matchup, which was previously reported by MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com).

Stann initially was slated to Wanderlei Silva (33-10-1 MMA 3-5 UFC) at the May 28 event, but “The Axe Murderer” repeatedly voiced his preference not to fight the fan favorite and military hero.

Featuring a lightweight title fight between current champion Frankie Edgar and top contender Gray Maynard, UFC 130 takes place May 28 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The night’s main card, including the Santiago vs. Stann bout, airs on pay-per-view.

U.S. fans likely best remember Santiago for a three-fight stint under the UFC banner in 2006. The Brazilian defeated Justin Levens but then was bested by Chris Leben and Alan Belcher, which led to his release.

Since that time, Santiago has racked up an impressive 11-1 record, which includes a 2007 single-night Strikeforce middleweight grand-prix championship via wins over Trevor Prangley and Sean Salmon. Santiago’s current win streak also includes two memorable World Victory Road/Sengoku wins over Kazuo Misaki, as well as victories over MMA notables Siyar Bahadurzada, Logan Clark, Jeremy Horn, Mamed Khalidov, Kazuhiro Nakamura and Andrei Semenov, among others.

Stann, meanwhile, has won four of his past five fights, including a recent TKO victory over surging Leben. The former WEC light-heavyweight champ recently has stepped up his game under the tutelage of famed trainer Greg Jackson and his stable of fighters. His recent wins have come over the likes of light heavyweights Steve Cantwell and Rodney Wallace, and after a drop to middleweight, over Mike Massenzio. The lone defeat during his recent stretch came via decision to fast-rising Phil Davis.

As the UFC 189 tour made its last stop in Dublin, featherweight champ Jose Aldo was met with a torrent of abuse from the Irish fans. It might have been unpleasant, but it might also have been just what he needed.